Home > NBC's Gregory: GOP Knew It Would Be 'Political Suicide' to Oppose Gun Bill

NBC's Gregory: GOP Knew It Would Be 'Political Suicide' to Oppose Gun Bill

By

Kyle Drennen

April 12, 2013 - 11:35am

During a segment on Friday's NBC Today that suggested a
"turning point for gun laws," co-host Matt Lauer declared: "Big story in
Washington this morning, the Senate agreeing to move forward with the
first major gun control legislation in decades, this after more Republicans than expected agreed to debate a proposal on new federal background checks for gun purchases."

Meet the Press moderator David Gregory proclaimed: "...the
feeling among Republicans was, 'Don't stop the debate. That would be
political suicide for Republicans to not let the debate go forward.'"

However,
even as Lauer and Gregory touted the gun background check legislation
being put up for a vote in the Senate, they both acknowledged an uphill
battle for it to actually pass. Lauer observed: "...but it would be
presumptuous, wouldn't it, for supporters of this legislation to think
they've got it made?" Gregory agreed: "Oh, absolutely....you have a lot
of people voting to let the debate happen who are not expected to be
there in the end."

Lauer fretted about the influence of the National Rifle Association:
"Some people think that that lobbying group has been weakened in the
wake of the Newtown tragedy....in your opinion, is the NRA weaker or
still as strong?" Gregory admitted: "Still as strong, I'd say without a
doubt..."

He added that the gun rights group was "facing new difficulties,"
citing a Democratic senator arguing that the NRA "is being tea-partied
in this whole fight, meaning they're facing attacks from their right,
from other elements of the gun lobby putting pressure on them."

Gregory also revealed the cynicism of pro-gun Democrats: "I spoke to a
Democratic aide who's got a boss who's up for re-election, who said,
'Look, the more gun votes the better, the more we can vote against some
of these measures, the safer we'll be in a re-election fight.'"

Lauer still tried to spin the bleak assessment as a positive: "But at
least there's debate. And when you look at the bigger picture, David,
and you look at the fact that lawmakers are taking on gun control,
they're taking on immigration, they're debating deficit reduction and
the budget, does it send the message that perhaps Congress has heard the
criticism, and they're actually getting down to business?"

Gregory joined in the wishful thinking: "I think that there's a feeling
in Washington among Democrats and Republicans that the public is tuning
them out because they don't think they can do anything big, so on all
those issues they – you just mentioned, there's the prospect of actually
doing something big."

On Tuesday's NBC Nightly News[1],
Capitol Hill correspondent Kelly O'Donnell asserted that the
"provocative move" by some GOP senators to filibuster gun control led
others in the party to start "sensing public disdain."

On Thursday's Today[2], political director Chuck Todd claimed Republicans would be hurt with women voters if they did not support gun restrictions.

Here is a full transcript of the April 12 exchange:

7:09AM ET

MATT LAUER: Big story in Washington this morning, the Senate agreeing
to move forward with the first major gun control legislation in decades,
this after more Republicans than expected agreed to debate a proposal
on new federal background checks for gun purchases. David Gregory is
moderator of Meet the Press. David, good morning to you.

DAVID GREGORY: Good morning, Matt.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Story to Watch; Turning Point for Gun Laws?; Senate Vote Leads to More Heated Debate]

LAUER: So the vote on this was 68-31 to move forward and debate this, a
stronger show of support than a lot of people expected, but it would be
presumptuous, wouldn't it, for supporters of this legislation to think
they've got it made?

GREGORY: Oh, absolutely, because the feeling among Republicans was,
"Don't stop the debate. That would be political suicide for Republicans
to not let the debate go forward." So you have a lot of people voting to
let the debate happen who are not expected to be there in the end.
Democrats behind this bill are literally going down the list saying,
"Well, you think I can keep that person along?" A lot of this, of
course, has to do with the gun lobby.

LAUER: There seem to be two schools of thought on the NRA right now,
David. Some people think that that lobbying group has been weakened in
the wake of the Newtown tragedy. Yet you had two Democratic senators who
voted against even debating this bill after the NRA said, "Basically
guys, we're keeping a scorecard how you vote." They're both facing
reelection. So in your opinion, is the NRA weaker or still as strong?

GREGORY: Still as strong, I'd say without a doubt, and facing new
difficulties. I spoke to a Democratic senator who said the NRA is being
tea-partied in this whole fight, meaning they're facing attacks from
their right, from other elements of the gun lobby putting pressure on
them to what's called score the bill, in other words, give a letter
grade to watch how lawmakers vote on this.

I spoke to a Democratic aide who's got a boss who's up for
re-election, who said, "Look, the more gun votes the better, the more we
can vote against some of these measures, the safer we'll be in a
re-election fight." So right now, supporters of the bill are looking for
some cover from the NRA. Will they agree to sort of look the other way,
not come out for the background check bill, but not penalize senators
who vote for it. That, they feel, is their only chance.

LAUER: But at least there's debate. And when you look at the bigger
picture, David, and you look at the fact that lawmakers are taking on
gun control, they're taking on immigration, they're debating deficit
reduction and the budget, does it send the message that perhaps Congress
has heard the criticism, and they're actually getting down to business?

GREGORY: You know, I think it's an important point, Matt. I think that
there's a feeling in Washington among Democrats and Republicans that
the public is tuning them out because they don't think they can do
anything big, so on all those issues they – you just mentioned, there's
the prospect of actually doing something big. On gun control, it's not
going to be complete, certainly not those who want to see greater
regulation, but a background check bill that could ultimately perhaps
even get through the House, that would still be seen as an
accomplishment.

LAUER: Alright, what do you have Sunday?

GREGORY: Well, we'll talk about immigration, in addition to these
other things. Marco Rubio, spear-heading the Republican effort behind
it, will join us. Also Senators Gillibrand and Lee.

LAUER: Alright, David, thank you very much. We'll check you out Sunday on Meet the Press.

GREGORY: Thanks, Matt.

-- Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here[3] to follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.